Left Atrial Hemodynamics Assessed with 2D Real Time Phase Contrast MRI are Associated with Prior Stroke History in AF Patients

2D real time phase contrast was utilized in atrial fibrillation patients with and without a prior history of stroke. To account for within patient heartbeat variability, heartbeats were aggregated within each patient according to ECG trace. Heartbeat durations (RR-intervals) were sorted from fast to slow for each patient. Three groups were formed from the tertiles of the RR-intervals (faster, regular, and slower heartbeats). Blood stasis and peak velocity were compared between the stoke subgroups for each grouping. Patients with prior stroke had significantly higher stasis which remained significant in multivariable modeling using demographic variables as well.